Swastika Leaves its Mark

Early Monday, Aug. 21, a swastika was found carved into a putting green at Crystal Lake Golf Club in the south metro of the Twin Cities.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC) released a statement on Thursday, Aug. 24, saying they “are deeply concerned by this incident” and “urge anyone with information about the vandalism to come forward and report it to law enforcement.”

Shelby Lewis, junior in zoology, said her “jaw dropped when [she] heard that this happened,” and was surprised something like this could happen in the state she calls home.

“Perpetrators of these types of incidents are intent on spreading a message of hate and challenging the openness and respectful atmosphere of our community,” JCRC said in their statement.

“I think our country is in a dark time right now, full of hate and anger,” Lewis said. “Either the person/people who did this thought it was a sick joke or they are awful people trying to spread their views of hatred and ignorance throughout our country.”

North Dakota State Student Government does not tolerate acts of racial violence or hate in any way.

Lewis said, “Whomever committed this crime should pay the golf course for the damages they did not only do to the green, but also to the company’s reputation because now they’ll be known as the golf course that had a giant swastika carved in it.”

Student Body President Mason Wenzel endorsed a statement earlier this month that said, “College campuses are spaces that students should be able to call home, not places of violence, hate and racism.”

When asked what would happen if something similar happened at NDSU, Lewis said, “I believe the loving students of this campus would come together to show our country we do not agree with the hateful beliefs of our fellow student, and that they should be kicked out of the school.”

Discrimination and vandalism are prohibited by NDSU and definitions can be found in the Student Code of Conduct Handbook.

If any student does commit a hateful crime and it’s reported, they will receive a Receipt of Incident report and then a Notice of Charges before a pre-hearing conference is held. If a student did commit a crime they could face Student Code of Conduct violations.

“Students should always feel welcome and safe at our incredible higher education institutions, never having to fear for their personal well-being,” the statement Wenzel endorsed said.

Students can report hateful messaging to University Police at 701-231-8998.